nannyhannah replied to your post: @sippymccloy asked via Twitter: What should I…
As a nanny, I would also suggest setting up a trial period. You need to make sure the fit is right- for you, your child & also for the nanny :)
Great advice. Much better than my suggested method which involved a collection of photos, a dartboard and a blindfold.
Come Back Later, Cupid
The boys did not care that yesterday was Valentine’s Day. At all. Staggering was the sheer multitude of the fucks they did not give.
Though we jettisoned their afternoon nap, the boys still take one at school if they’re tired. Yesterday was an active day and they were wiped out, but they didn’t nap. Then, they had swim lessons after school. That equated to Wyatt whining and crying for 30 minutes straight that he wanted cookies for dinner. And Boone leaping into whining jags for the strangest of offenses.
So, rather than have a nice romantic evening with my wife after the boys went to bed, we both were so exhausted we just ate the chocolates I got her and watched The Daily Show.
@sippymccloy asked via Twitter:
What should I ask during a nanny interview? What questions can I forego since they are presumably professionals?
Great question. We had a nanny help me while I was a work-at-home dad and she still is our go-to babysitter. The boys love her and she’s definitely a part of our family. When we were interviewing (and we interviewed a bunch of people), here’s what we were concerned about and why:
- References - to make sure what we were being told was true
- CPR certification - this one’s obvious
- Discipline techniques - the best answer is “Whatever techniques you prefer,” but really we just want to make sure it wasn’t “Knives” or something
- Stress management - raising kids, even in a part-time capacity, is incredibly stressful, so we wanted to make sure it didn’t build up
- Transportation - our main concern here was that our nanny had a reliable way to get to work but, if you want the nanny to run errands, you need to work out the car seat situation
- Credit check - this is important for a number of reasons, but the main one is this: if the credit check revealed huge debt, we knew they would either continually ask for raises or always be on the lookout for a better paying gig
- Criminal records check - this one’s obvious, too
- Rate of pay - we firmly believe you get what you pay for and childcare is not where you want to skimp, but we also asked how she prefers to be paid because taxes are also an issue
- What that pay includes - we couldn’t assume the rate included things like laundry, cooking and cleaning, so we made sure to get clear answers and know where the line was
- Legal status - I kinda hate that it’s an issue, but it’s an issue, especially in California
- Kidnapping plans - also, kinda obvious
I would also suggest not forgoing any questions, even if you’re interviewing a professional. It’s your kid and you should be thorough, so no question is unnecessary.
The Secret to French Parenting
“Bringing Up Bébé” could have offered a complementary view of the link between public policy and social norms. But instead Druckerman largely trails off, providing a series of loose observations that fall somewhere between snarky (“Moms do get a bit fatter as you get farther from central Paris”) and Martha Stewart-y (“We have a collection of colorful melamine plates. But for dinner I use white, which makes the colors of the food pop”). That’s too bad, as the spirited reception for a book like “Bébé” attests to a wish for guidance on behalf of American mothers, and the real need for change in how America handles issues like maternity leave, daycare, and public education. The lack of support for mothers in American society, Warner discerns, engenders an entrenched sense of anxiety and that often leads to “hyper parenting.” Without a cadre, or frame, for childhood, many American mothers feel like they are flying blind and solo—resulting in a kind of perfectionist despair. Fatigued, American parents look overseas for the solution, but just may discover that no amount of French or Chinese will sufficiently change anything.
- On our Book Bench blog, Ruth Margalit writes about the latest book to claim child-rearing superiority: “Bringing Up Bébé”: http://nyr.kr/yKfw5P
Holy crap. I love this.
(Hey, rascouet. Any thoughts on this as someone intimate with both France and ‘Murica? Is this a valid assessment?)
How can you tell who is pregnant on Valentine’s Day?
She is the one crying over her dinner when her filet comes out well-done instead of med-rare.
According to her tags, this really happened. Like just now. I would say this is hysterical, but I don’t want to further upset her.
Every parent thinks their kid is a genius. Most days, I don’t just think my boys are incredibly intelligent, I know it.
Then, Boone purposefully dumps an entire container of yogurt on his head for no good reason and I question my assessment.
This lady.
This lady gave me two amazing boys, two boys that are the best of both of us (and by that I mean mostly her). She makes me a better man and a better father. And she cheats at pool like a boss.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Larissa. I love you more than all the blades of grass.
